Firozabad pregnant woman dies after alleged police assault, six suspended

A pregnant woman allegedly kicked by police during an attempt to arrest her husband in Firozabad died after childbirth, prompting the suspension of six personnel. The Samajwadi Party has demanded a murder case against the policemen allegedly involved

Firozabad (UP): Police personnel who arrived to arrest a theft suspect in the Shikohabad area of Firozabad allegedly kicked his pregnant wife, who later died, following which six personnel, including two sub-inspectors, were suspended, a police official said.

The issue took a political turn on Tuesday when Samajwadi Party national general secretary Ramjilal Suman staged a sit-in at the Shikohabad police station along with party workers, demanding the registration of a murder case against the policemen allegedly involved in the incident.

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“We met the police officials and demanded that a murder case be registered against the accused policemen in connection with the death of a Dalit woman named Anjali. The police have sought three days’ time in this regard,” Suman told PTI.

Earlier, an SP delegation, accompanied by Suman, had visited Labhaua village and met the family of the deceased to express their condolences and gather details about the incident.

According to the family, Sub-Inspector Dharmpal Singh arrived at Gaurav’s home in Labhaua village with a police team around 11.45 pm on Sunday to arrest him in connection with a theft case.

The family alleged that when Gaurav’s pregnant wife, Anjali, 28, pleaded with the police not to take her husband away, Singh kicked her in the abdomen, causing her to fall.

After the police took Gaurav, 32, away, Anjali’s condition deteriorated and she was admitted to a hospital in Shikohabad, where she gave birth to a boy on Monday morning, the family said.

Her condition worsened after the delivery and she was taken to a private hospital in Firozabad, where doctors declared her dead, according to the family.

The family said police released Gaurav after learning about Anjali’s death.

Following her death, villagers created a ruckus at the police station and questioned the police action, they said.

The newborn boy is also in critical condition and has been referred to Agra, the family said.

Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Ravi Shankar Prasad said Superintendent of Police Aditya Langhe suspended Sub-Inspectors Dharmpal Singh and Satyapal Singh, Head Constables Mohan Singh and Arvind Kumar, and Constables Bhavtosh Kumar and Kuldeep Kumar with immediate effect on Monday for negligence.

He said the woman’s post-mortem examination was conducted late at night and her last rites were performed the same night. A large police force was deployed during the proceedings.